Acetylene lamp



Feb. 4, 1930. w. A. COCHRANE ACETYLENE LAMP I Filed Sept. 5, 1925 Patented Feb. 4, 1930 WILBUR A. COCHRANE, 01? SEA CLIFF, NEW YORK ACETYL NE LAMP Application filed September 5, 1925. Serial 1T0. 54,591.

'- This invention relatesto improvements in acetylene lamps.

' The object of the invention is to provide a construction which, while advantageous in a small lamp, is particularly efiicient in a large lamp capable of containing a relativelylarge V I charge of carbide and water, and running for a considerable time.

, With these general objects in View and some others whichwill appear from the description hereinafter, the invention consists I in the features, detailsiof construction and combinations of elements which will be fully described and more particularly pointed out in the following description and claims. a

I In the drawings i ig. 1 is a vertical section partly inelevation;

Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections on the and I v a Fig. 4 is a detail section. Referring to the drawings, is acasing capable ofholding water, this casing having a lower portion a, which issubstantially cylindrical, and an outwardlyextended upper portion a, the purposes of which will be fully explained hereinafter. In order to increase the stability of the lamp, it is advantageous to provide the bottom of the casing with an outward extending base flange, as indicated at a 1 I Within the casing there isplaced a remov able carbide receptacle B'which is of a diam- 20- lines 2'-2 and"3l-3, respectively, of Fig. 1,

eter nearly, but not quite, equal to the interior diameter of the lower portion a of the casing A, so that an annular space for water will be left between the receptacle and the said lower 'portiona. On the inside ofthe receptacle, 40 and secured Water tight to the bottom thereof are arranged two tubes, one within the other, the one of larger diameter being indicated at C and the one of smaller. diameter at D. These tubes may be secured to the bottom of the receptacle B in any suitable way. In

the preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the receptacle is provided with a circular opening through which projects a bushing E having a flange e soldered to the bottom. Into this bushing is screwed a plug E, this plug being provided with a flange 1, arranged to seat against a packing washer 2 of suitable elastic material, for example, rubber. The inner end of the plug E has an annulus 3 outside of which fits tightly the tube 0. The tube D is arranged to fit tightly into the said annulus 3. The plug E is provided with a central opening as large as the bore of the inner tube D and in register with it.

A restricting rod, F, extends through the opening in the plug E and through the bore of the inner tube D, this rod extending upward some distance above the top end of said tube D. The top end of the rod is screw threaded into a central. hole in a plug G, to which is secured a movable tubeH, whose lower end telescopes into the annular space between the tubes 0 and D.

I The lower end of the restricting rod F is advantageously provided with means by which it may be rotated or reciprocated, as for example, by cranking the end of the rod as indicated at f, Fig. 1. This lower end of the rod F projects below the bottom of the receptacle B and in the bestembodiment of the invention may be so long that when the latter is placed in the casing A the lower end of the rodF will strike the bottom of the casing and thereby will be pushed upward relative to the receptacle B, thus lifting the tube H.

Furthermore, means may be provided on the inner bottom face of the casing A for holding the'restricting rod F against rotartion relative to the casing, for a purpose hereinafter explained. Thismeans may comprise a notch or recess whoseside walls a are formed by stamping the bottom inward, as shown in Fig. 1 the slopea at each side being advantageous for the reasons hereinafter explained.

The movable tube H is longer than the tubes C and D and, when down, it rests onlthe plug E. The tube H is provided near its lower end with a plurality of holes as indicated at h for a purpose hereinafter explained. It

extends some distance above the upper ends said tube C a slight distance, for apu'rpose hereinafter explained. The tubular member is intended to be embedded in the calcium carbide, which is charged into the lower part of the casing, as indicated at K, Fig. 1. ,This tubular member I is arranged to be lifted by the carbide as the latter swells under the action of the Water which is fed to it. In

practice, the friction between the carbide and the exterior surface of the tube I may be suflicient to cause this lifting action. However, amore reliable action of'this kindis obtained by making the tubular member I as a closed coiled wire helix, as indicated in the drawing, and a still further reliability in lifting action is obtained by connecting the tubular member I to a cover device L arranged to rest on top of the carbide and to be lifted by the carbide as the latter swells; In practice, this cover device is in the, form of an annulus, which, however, is advantageously made sufliciently. smaller in diarns eter than theinterior diameter of the receptacle B, so as to permit the introduction of carbide into the bottom of the receptacle B after the annulus L and the tubularmember I are put inplace.

,A detachable cover M is provided for the receptacle B, this cover being so formed as to provide a downward-projecting skirt M, an annular groove, and acentral gas-domem. Transversely of the dome-chamber there is fixed a cross-bar m provided with atleast two downward-extending posts, m each having a lug, m these lugs projecting at right angles from their respective posts,,one lug in one direction,and the other lug in the opposite direction. r A filter-holdingplate P is detachably held by the posts m3. The plate has a diametergreater than the distance apart of the posts and has holes through which the posts and their lugs may pass. By rotating'the plate the lugs are brought onto the plate and hold it against displacement downward. This is a form of bayonet-joint serving to lock the plate in place and yet allow its removal by a backward rotation of the plate. For convenience of rotation,the plate is provided withtwo downward-extending ears, p, which i The plate P serves to clamp in place a filter Q, of elastic material, such as felt, which is of larger diameter than the gas chamber and, therefore, is pressed tightly against the cover M by the plate P, as well as against the crosspiece m, so that it forms a lower wall for the gas-chamber in the dome m. To hold the cover M tightly against the top edge of its receptacle B and maintain a gas tight joint atthe packing ring N, while also vallowing the cover to be readily detached, a special locking means is provided. In the present example, this locking means comprises aplurality of resilient clamps each consisting of a helical spring, indicated at R, carrying a hook S at one'end, arranged to hook over a lip m on the outside of the cover M, the other end of the spring carrying a catch-member T comprising a portion extending substantially parallel'to the wall of the receptacle, and a portion arranged to project radially inward in contact with the bottom of the receptacle B which has its bottom edge extended downward to enter the curve of the ring 6, as shown in Fig.1. In the preferred embodiment this inward proj ecting portion is made in the form of a loop or ring, asindicated at t, this loop serving as a finger hold to stretch the spring R when pulling thecatch-member into place. In the best embodiment of the invention the rings serve as feet for the receptacle, to support the latter in the casing. In practice'three' of the resilient clamps are employed, these being arranged about 120 apart around the receptacle, thus properly distributing the stress on the packing'ring N to insure a gas tight joint atallparts of said packing ring, and, when serving as feet, to support the receptacle properly. o

,1 To the central-part of the cover M at the gas-dome m is secured an upward-extending gas pipe or burner-tube U which supports a gallery ring V (if such be desired to hold a globe), a pillar W and a burner tip' w.

Also, the burner-tube U carries, at an inter- V mediate partof its length, a cover Y for the casing A. This cover Y may be rigidlysecured to thetube U as, for example, by soldering. A sleeve Z may surround the burnertube between the casing cover Y and the gallery ring V, if desired the sleeve and gallery, ring being held tightly in place by screwing the pillar W onto the end of the burner-tube U and tightly against the gallery ring. In

the bestembodiment of the invention, the casing cover Y is made as a dome and it-s lower edge is rimmed tofit telescopically outside Aan upward extending rim on the cas-. ing I 7 The weight of the receptacle B with its contents, including the carbide, may be sup ported from the cover Y whichv rests on the casing A-pand'the parts which carry this load are made strong enough forthis purpose, the

' rings, '25, in thiscase not quite touching the on the casing of the casing.

bottom ofthe casing. Where, however, the rings,.t, serve as feetto support thereceptacle and its attached parts, the casing cover Y is solocated andA arranged as to not quite rest I; The operation of this lamp is as follows:

The casing cover Y and its attached parts are lifted from the casing, thereby leaving the casing empty. Water is then poured into the casing to such a height that when the casing cover Y and its attached parts are replaced, the water will rise about to the top The recepacle B is detached from its cover by releasing the resilient clamps. This is done-by pulling each of the catch-members T downward and outward from the bottom of; the receptacle and when they are free, lifting their hooks S from the lips m 1 The receptacle B is then filled about half way of its height with calcium carbide, which may be done by removing the tubular member, I, filling in the required amount of carbide, and then forcing the tubular member I I back into place, or, most advantageously, by pouring the carbide into the annular space between the cover device L and the inner wall of the receptacle B, shaking the receptacle from time to time, if necessary, to shake the carbide down into place.

attached tubular member I to some extent to get enough carbide into the receptacle. After the receptacle has been charged with carbide,

,. the receptacle cover M is replaced and locked I, in the casing A, bythe act of putting the easto the receptacle B by replacing the clamps. Then the receptacleis lowered into the water ing cover Y onto the casing A, the water level rising in the casing. The contact of therod F liftsthe tube H from its contactwith the plug E and by proper manipulation, the

. cranked end 7 of the rod is causedto enter 7 with the lower part of the casing, the water level will fall very slowly as water is used by the carbide, thus causing but little change of pressure, on the supply of water to the carbide. In practice the parts are so dimensioned that all the carbide in the receptacle B will be used the time the water level has fallen approximately to the plane of the I top of the cylindricallower portion a of the Also it may be necessaryto'lift the cover device L and its casing, whereupon the lamp is ready for re charging.

The water which fills the space in the easing around the receptacle, flows up through the hole in the bottom of the plug E around the rod F, thence upward through the annular space, between the rod F and the inner wall of the tube D, overflows the tube D at its upper end and falls down the'annular space between the outside of tube D and the inside of tube H. Thence the water flows outward under the lower end of the tube H and then upward in the space between the outside of tube H and then inside of tube C. It overflows the top of the tube C and falls downward in the space between the outside of tube 0 and the inside of the tubular member I. It escapes at the bottom of the latter member and wets the carbide at the lower part of the receptacle. This causes a generation of acetylene gas. The gas rises, passes into the upper part of the receptacle, which serves as a gas chamber, then passes through the filter Q, (which holds back any dust which may be in the gas) and enters the gas chamber in the gas-dome m. From there it passes to the burner. If at any time sedi ment clogs the lower end of the tube H, the water can escape through the openings h.

As thev calcium carbide is acted upon by the water, it is converted into acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide. The latter occupies greater volume than the carbide so there is a gradual swelling of the solid contents of the receptacle, thus lifting the carbide yvhich is above that strata already acted upon. This so-called swelling of the carbide causes the tubular device I to be lifted, on account of the friction between itsouter surface and the surrounding carbide, as well as on account of the lifting of the cover device L which rests upon the upper surface of the carbide. Hence, during the running of the lamp, the tubular device I gradually rises, so that the water flowing to the carbide from the lowestend of I is distributed at different levels and hence is not compelled to flow through the carbide sludge to any great extent vertically. As the carbide sludge is more compact than carbide, it offers greater resistance to the flow, and there would be a slowing up in the generation of gas were it not for the gradual rising of the tubular device I.

If any obstruction occurs in these spaces which cannot be dislodged by the movement of the bell-tube, so that the light begins to lower, it is possible, without lifting out the receptacle, to cause a relative rotation of the receptacle may be lifted out and the rod F reciprocated or rotated by hand,,thus dis.-

lodging any foreign matter in the water which may be lodged in the tubes so that the water may get through more rapidly. v

It will be noted that by the series of tubes, arranged as shown and described, along restricted water channel is obtained in a relatively short height, and because of this length, even when the cross-sectional area of the Water. channel is of fair size, the restriction is sufficient to cause a relatively slow feed of the water sufficient to sustain the proper generation of gas for a considerable interval of time. In this way it is possible to make a table lamp with relatively large storage capacity for carbide and water, yet to generate the gas only at the rate needed for a good 7 burner While at the same time avoiding any such very small, easily obstructed water-' ducts as have heretofore been considered necessary in such lamps. Also, on account of this relatively long and tortuous water passage through the tubes, sudden fiuctua- ,tions in gas pressure will not be so likely to low ba'ckthe water and break the water seal so as to allow the gas to escape. In

this way, less fiuctutation in gas pressure occurs than in those lamps where the water feed is readily fluctuated or set in oscillation by sudden variations in gas generation and then, by supplying an excess of water, due to such oscillations, causes an excess generation of gas at intervals.

The skirt 1W of the cover M of the carbide receptacleserves to form a long water seal, so that if at any time the packing N should tend to allow gas to escape from the carbide receptacle, the water seal would serve to preventsuch escaping gas from blowing out to the top of the water in the casing.

In practice it has been found that the gas pressureis maintained more nearly uniform than with prior devices, and this without the necessity of hand stirring to break up the sludge.

I/Vhat is claimed is; '1. In an acetylene lamp, the combination,

with a casing arranged to hold water, and a carbide receptacle arranged as a pressure chamber within the casing and spaced therefrom to provide a water space, said receptacle having a water passage in its bottom, of a plurality of concentric tubes spaced from each other, the walls of said tubes being spaced relatively close to one another so as to form a narrow passageway therebetween allowing a relatively thin sheet 'of Water to flow in each such space, two of said tubes being fixed water tight to the bottomof the'carbide' receptacle, the inner of the said two tubes surrounding the opening at the bottom of the carbide receptacle, a movable tube located between and spaced from saidtwo fixed tubes, the upper end of said movable tube being closed above the top end of the said inner tube, and a restricting rod secured to the upthrough, the opening in the bottom of the water receptacle. r V p 2. In an acetylenelamp, the combination, with a casing arranged to hold water, and a carbide receptacle arranged as a pressure chamber and adapted to be rotated'within the casing and spaced therefrom to provide a water space, said receptacle having a water passage in its bottom, of a plurality of com centric tubes spaced from each other, the walls of said tubes being spaced relatively close to one another so as to form a narrow passageway therebetween allowing a relatively thin sheet of water to flow in each such space, two of said tubes being fixed water tight to the bottom of the carbide receptacle,

the inner of the said two tubes surrounding the opening at the bottom of the carbide reiceptacle, a movable tube located between and spaced from said two fixed tubes, the upper end of said movable tube being closedabove the top end of the said inner tube, a restricting rod secured to the upper end of. said movable tube, extending through the said inner tube and projecting through the opening in the bottom of the water receptacle, and

means carried by the watercasing for holding said restricting rod against rotation when the carbide receptacle is rotated.

3. In'anacetylene lamp, the combination,

with a casing arranged to hold water, and

a carbide receptaclearranged as a pressure chamber and adapted to be rotated within thelcasing and spaced therefrom to provide a water, space, said receptacle having a water passage in its bottom, of a plurality; of concentric tubes spaced from each other, the walls of said tubes being spaced relatively close to one another so as to form a narrow passageway therebetween allowing a relative- 7 1y thin sheet of water to flow in each such space, two of said tubes beingfixed water tight to the bottom of the carbide receptacle, the inner of the said two tubes surrounding the opening at the bottom of the carbide receptacle, a movable tube located between and spaced from said two fixedtubes, the upper end of said movable tube being "closed above the top end of the said inner tube, a restricting rod securedto the upper endo'f said movand being spaced away from the outer fixed tube to form a water passage.

' 4. In anacetylene lamp, the combination, with a casing arranged'to holdwater, and

a carbide receptacle arranged as a pressure chamber within the casing and spaced therefrom to provide a water-space, said receptacle having a hole in its bottom, an outer fixed tube and an inner fixed tube within the receptacle, a plug arranged to close the hole in the bottom of the carbide receptacle, said as to form a narrow passage therebetween plug being arranged to hold the lower ends of the outer and inner fixed tubes, a movable tube closed at its upper end above the inner tube and arranged to move in the space between the outer and inner fixed tubes, said movable tube being spaced from said outer and inner tubes toform water passages, said tubes being arranged close to one another so allowing a relatively thin sheet of water to flow in said passages, and a restricting rod extending through the opening in the plug and through the inner tube, said rod being secured to the top of the movable tube and' and having an upward-extending annular flange, an outer fixed tube fitting tightly on the outside of said annulus, an inner fixed I tube fitting tightly inside said annulus, a movable tube closed at its upper end above the inner tube and arranged to move in the space between the outer and inner fixed tubes,-

said movable tubebeing spaced from said outer and inner tubes to form water passages, said tubes being arranged close to one an= other so as to form a narrow passage therebetween allowing a relatively thin sheet'of water to flow in said passages, and a restricting rod extending through the opening in the plug and through the inner tube, said rod being secured to the top of the movable tube and having its 'lowerend projecting below the carbide receptacle and into contact with thecasing.

6. Inan acetylene lamp, the combination,

- with a casing arranged to hold water, and

a carbide receptacle arranged as a pressure chamber w1th1n the caslng and spaced therefrom to provide a water space, sa d receptacle having a hole in its bottom, of an internally threaded. collar fixed to said bottom and projecting through the hole, a plug threaded into said collar and provided with a hole for; the admission of water, and with a flange extending over the collar, a packing ring clamped between said flange and the collar, said plug having a circular pastacle, sai

sage for the admission of waterand having an upward-extending annular flange, an outer fixed tube fitting tightly on the outside of said annulus,-an inner fixed tube fitting tightly'inside said annulus, a movable tube closed at its upper end above the inner tube and arranged to move in the space between the outer and inner fixed tubes, said movable tube beingspaced fromsaid outer and inner tubes to form water passages, said tubes being arranged close to one another so as to form a narrow passage therebetween allowing a relatively thin sheet of water to flow in said passages, and a restricting rod extending through the opening in the plug, and through the inner tube, said rod being secured to the top of the movable tube and having its lower end projecting below the carbide receptacle and into contact with the casing.

7. In an acetylene lamp, the combination, with a casing arranged to hold water, a carbide receptacle located within the casing and spaced therefrom, the bottom of the receptaclebeing provided with a downwardprojecting ridge, and a lid for said receplid having a packing to engage the receptacle and having a retainer on its upper surface, of a locking device comprising a helical spring arranged to hook over the retainer on the lid, and a ring device arranged to fit over the ridge on the bottom of the carbide receptacle, the length of the locking device being such that when in place the spring will'exert sutficient tension to hold the lid firmly to the receptacle.

8. In an acetylene lamp, the combination, with a casing arranged to hold water, a carbide receptacle located within the casing and spaced therefrom, the bottom of the receptacle being provided with a downwardprojecting ridge, and a lid for said receptacle, said lid having a packing to engage the receptacle and having retainers on its upper surface, of a plurality of locking deviceseach comprising a helical spring arranged to hook over the respective retainer on the lid, and a ring device arranged to fit over the ridge on the bottom of the carbide receptacle, the length of each locking device being such that when in place the spring will 1 exert suflicient tension to hold the lid firmly to the receptacle, said rings being arranged to rest'on the inner surface of the bottom of the casing and serve as feet to support the carbide receptacle within the casing.

9. In an acetylene lamp, the combination, with a casing arranged to contain water, said casing having a substantially cylindrical lower portion,'an upper portion of greater diameter than said lower portion and an upward extending rim, of a cylindrical carbide receptacle within the casing and less in diameter than the cylindrical portion of the casing, said receptacle being arranged to enter and nearly fill said cylindrical portion, means for admitting Water from the casing to. the interior of the carbide receptacle, a lid detachablysecured on said receptacle, a gas pipe secured to and extending upward from said receptacle lid and provided With a burner, a casing cover carried by said gas pipe and provided With a downward-extending rim arranged to telescope over the upward-extending rim of the casing, and means for supporting the carbide receptacle on the bottom of the casing at a distance therefrom to form a Water space.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILBUR A. COOHRANE. Q 

